Building construction unit



April 13, 1937. F. M. HARPHAM I BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Original Filed March 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FEED M.HARPHAM April'l3, 1937. F. M. HARPHAM 2,076,939

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Original Filed March 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwoentoo 2.! v 9, FRED M HnRpHnM Patented Apr. 13, 1937 PATENT OFFICE v 7 2,076,989 ,BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Fred M. Harpham, Akron, OhiouHarry E. Andres and Gertrude B. Harpham, executors of said Harpham, deceased, assignors to The Akers and Harpham Company, Akron, Ohima corporation of Ohio Application March 20, 1928, Serial No. 263,015 Renewed February 2, 1935 9 Claims.

This invention relates to construction units particularly adapted for forming roofs and walls of buildings, and it has, for its primary object, the provision of members of the above designated character which shall have highthermal insulating properties and at the same'time possess great load-sustaining capacity. i

It is, of course. well known that deformed metal sheets are desirable as building construction units, inasmuch as they possess greater strength than flat sheets of similar weight and it has likewise been proposed to combine deformed metallic sheets to provide construction units that are particularly desirable by reason of their load-sustain- ]5 ing capacity. However, my invention contemplates the employment of deformed metallic sheets which shall not only possess the recognized advantage of great strength per unit weight, but also embody unusual thermal insulating proper- 30 ties by reason of being assembled to provide continuous passages between the sheets.

The present invention also includes the assembly of formed metallic sheets in such combinations as to facilitate interlocking the units 25 in building construction.

With these and other objects] in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and clearly defined by the appended claims.

30 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a building fabricated by employing construction units embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. detail view illustrating means for 5 mounting the construction units upon the framework of a building;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a construction unit embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partially broken 40 away, illustrating a plurality of the construction units assembled in interlocking relation in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an assembly of building materials embodying the principles of 45 the invention;

Fig. 6 is likewise a sectional view illustrating a. different assembly that may be employed to realize the advantages of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an assembly of con- 50 struction units and building material that may be employed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 8 is another sectional view of an assembly of construction units and building material similar to that shown in Fig. 7 setting forth a possible 65 variation in form of the construction units; and

Fig. 9 is also a sectional view of a construction unit that may be employed to secure somewhat diiferent properties than the assemblies shown in the previous figures, but at the same time embodying the principles of the invention utilized 5 in the other constructions.

In practising my invention I employ corrugated or otherwise deformed metallic sheets which may be secured together in various combinations to provide desirable thermal insulating properties 10 when utilized in conjunction with roofing material of any suitable character. The corrugated or deformed sheets may be secured together by means of spot welding, rivets, or other suitable connecting means to establish passages between the members. The members are preferably so disposed relative to each other as to provide projections that may be employed in interlocking operating units, whereby the passages arecontinued throughout the structure formed thereby.

A better understanding of my invention may be had by reference to the drawings, in Fig. l of which is shown a building I fabricated by employing a plurality of construction units 2, disposed upon framework 3. The construction units may be formed in the manner shown, for example, in Fig. 3, including a plurality of corrugated sheets 4 and 5 secured together by means of rivets 6 or other suitable means. The sheets 4 and 5 are preferably disposed to establish a series of passages which will, of course, impart thermal insulating properties to the unit. The units may be secured to the framework 3 by any suitable means, such'as by employing members I of S- shape, as illustrated in Fig. 2, which are secured to the construction unit 2 and interlocked with channel members of the framework.

When employing a construction unit, such as shown in Fig. 3, particularly upon a roof of a building, it is desirable to dispose a suitable in- 40 sulating material 8 upon the assembled units 2, over which a suitable roofing material 9 is laid. The insulating material may be secured to the construction units in a variety of ways, as for example, by means of cement, pitch or by mechanical fastening means, such as screws, clamps or the like. The exact means of attaching the insulating material is, of course. a matter of minor importance which may be controlled by conditions of climate, etc. The roofing material 9 is preferably secured tothe insulating material 8 by any suitable cementing means, but this likewise may be varied tosuit conditions encoun- .tered.

The same type of unit employed in the construction of the root may be utilized in fabricating the walls of the building, providing high thermal insulation is desired there also. It will be olxserved that the construction units 2 are formed with the sheets I and 5 in overlapping relation. so that the plate 5 extends at one end of the unit, whereas the plate 4 forms a projection at the other end thereof, whereby an interlocking of the construction units may be effected in as mbling them to fabricate a roof or wall. Ll reover, this particular method of assembling the root the extent of the assembled units. In Fig. 4 an assembly of. units is shown, which 16 illustrates the manner 01 interlocking the units to prrwide a suitable wal or :oof construction. The sectional view of Fig. 5 clearly indicates at 54 the manner of interlocking the units and indicaims the high insulating properties that the amembled. structure possesses by reason of securing the insulating material 8 upon the assembled corrugated sheets. It will, of course, be appreciated that in addition to possessing great strength. and high insulating properties, the as- 515 semcly thus provided is especially durable because th corrugated metallic sheets are well protected roan the elements.

Ii it is desired to secure the advantages of high thermal insulating properties without the 39 necessity oi establishing such high load-sustain- .if'y per unit weight as embodied in the cons' unit 2, an assembly may be formed so i as illustrated in Fig. 6. As here shown, a ated sheet in is disposed upon and to a hat sheet ll of any desired material hug and, insulating materials l2 are se- 'iormed, may, of course, be emi construction as well, but it is a ia for roof construction by posing the corrugated metallic "i the flat sheet member H and Y isulating materials l2, passages ed, which materially increase the 4% ii. lg orties of the assembled unit. A reasonably high degree of mechanical strength obtained. in this unitas a result of the employment of the corrugated metallic sheet. Such construction ;.rovides a light building unit that 59 is just satisfactory as the unit previously described, where great strength is unnecessary.

In Fi s. "Z and 8, somewhat diiierent assemblies are illustrated that may be employed as construction units for buildings wherein metallic sheets 55 of different shape are utilized. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of sheets l3 and it are employed which are formed with depressions that provide suitable insulating spaces when the sheets are secured together, as indicated at I5.

50 A flat sheet it of any suitable material, either of metal or an insulating and weather-prooflng'material, may be secured to the sheets thus formed and assembled to complete the building unit, which not only possesses a desirable degree of 65 mechanical strength, but also high thermal insulating properties. It is unnecessary to provide overlapping or projecting portions in a unit of this character to 'obtain insulating spaces throughout an assembled structure.

70 In Fig. 8, the same type of construction is employed, but sheets H and l8 2. secured together which have irregular depres portions that are desirable because somewhat reater mechanical strength is realized. Flat shee r 59 of insulating 7 and roofing materials are likewi-e secured to the facilitates continuing the air passages assembled deformed sheets I! and I8 to establish insulating spaces throughout the extent of the building unit.

Fig. 9 illustrates a somewhat difierent assembly, including a plurality or corrugated metallic sheets and 2|, having a hat insulating sheet 22 interposedtherebetween. In providing this assembly, it will, of course, be necessary to utilize mechanical means for securing the members together because of the interposition of the insulating material 22 which will preclude spot welding. However, this unit provides high insulating properties, as well as great mechanical strength, with a minimum quantity of material.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the various combinations of construction units that the principles of the inventlon may be realized in various ways, depending upon the nature of the service which is demanded, It is possible to secure a high degree of mechanical strength, as well as high thermal insulating properties, for a minimum weight of material, and either of such properties may be varied according to the manner of assembly. In any event, the principal advantage 01' my invention is to secure the insulating properties of more expensive materials than ordinary metal that has previously been utilized in constructing relatively inexpensive buildings, such as warehouses, factories, garages and the like.

While I have not illustrated or described the use of cement or other substances for the purpose of sealing the overlapped ends of the building units, I desire to have it understood that such use comes within the scope of my invention and that the use of fillers at certain points in the air spaces vor passages to more completely define the passages is also within the purview of my invention.

Although I have specifically described several embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be introduced without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only suchlimitations be imposed as are ind cated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheetaeach having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions secured together with the elevated portion of one sheet being disposed in engagement with the depressed portion of the other sheet; said sheets being adapted to overlap the sheets 0! an adjacent unit with the depressions therein disposed with in the depressions in the sheets of said adjacent unit and with oneof said sheets extending between the sheets of said adjacent unit, thus to efiect an interlocking engagement between said units for yieldably preventing the displacement thereof in transverse directions.

2. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheets secured together in superposed relatlon, and each having a series oi alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions, said sheets being-adapted to overlap the sheets of an adjacent unit with the depressions therein disposed within the depressions in the sheets of said adjacent unit and with one of said sheets extending between the sheets 01' said adjacent unit, thus to effect an-interlocking engagement between said units for yieldably preventing the dis placement thereof in vertical and lateral directions.

3. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair 01 sheets secured together in superposed relation and diagonally displaced relative to one another and each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depessed portions, the elevated portion of one sheet being disposed in engagement with the depressed portion of the other sheet; said sheets being adapted to overlap the sheets of an adjacent unit with the depressions therein disposed within the depressions in the sheets of said adjacent unit and with one of said sheets extending between the sheets of said adjacent unit, thus to efiect an interlocking engagement between said units for yieldably preventing the displacement thereof in transverse directions.

4. A building construction unit, comprising: a

' pair of sheets secured together in superposed relation and diagonally displaced relative to one another and each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions formed with flat side walls, tops and bottoms, the elevated portion of one sheet being disposed in engagement with the depressed portion of the other sheet; said sheets being adapted to overlap the sheets of an adjacent unit with the depressions therein disposed within the depressions in the sheets of said adjacent unit and with one of said sheets extending between the sheets of said adjacent unit, thus to effect an interlocking engagement between said units for yieldably preventing the displacement thereof in transverse directions.

5. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheets secured together in superposed relation and diagonally displaced relative to one another for overlapping engagement with the sheets of adjacent units, and each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions.

6. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheets secured together in superposed relation and diagonally displaced relative to one another for overlapping engagement with the sheets of adjacent units, and each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions, the elevated portion of one sheet being disposed in engagement with the depressed portion of the other sheet.

7. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheets secured together in superposed relation and diagonally displaced relative to one another and each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions, said sheets being adapted to overlap the sheets of an adjacent unit with the depressions therein disposed within the depressions in the sheets of said adjacent unit and with one of said sheets extending between the sheets of said adjacent unit, thus to effect an interlocking engagement between said units for yieldably preventing the displacement thereof in vertical and lateral directions.

8. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheets secured together in superposed relation, each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions, the elevated portions of one of said sheets being disposed in engagement with the depressed portions of the other of said sheets; said sheets being superposed in overlapping relation, forming with respect to each other a projecting marginal edge and a retreating marginal edge, for overlapping engagenr ent respectively with a retreating marginal edge and a projecting marginal edge of corresponding sheets of an adjacent unit, and with the projecting marginal edge extending between the sheets of said adjacent unit, effecting a locking engagement of said units, preventing displacement of said units in transverse directions.

9. A building construction unit, comprising: a pair of sheets secured together in superposed relation, each having a series of alternately arranged elevated and depressed portions, the elevated portions of one of said sheets being disposed in engagement with the depressed portions of the other of said sheets; said sheets being diagonally displaced relatively to one another, forming with respect to each other a projecting marginal edge and a. retreating marginal edge, for overlapping engagement respectively with a retreating marginal edge and a projecting marginal edge of corresponding sheets of an adjacent unit, and with the projecting marginal edge extending between the sheets of said adjacent unit, effecting a locking engagement of said units, preventing displacement of said units in transverse directions.

FRED M. HARPHAM. 

